Molding-machine.



W. L. SPRINGER.

MOLDING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 19, 19x4.

1,242,385. Patented Oct. 9,1917. I

a SHEETS SHEET 1.

22% 72207: //i km L. J Hnjek W. 'L. SPRINGER.

MOLDING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 19. I914.

Patented 0%.9-1917.

3 SHEETs-SHEET 2 WILLIAM L. srnmeim, or PARK Rn Jen, ILLINOIS.

Specification a Letters iatent,

Patented. Oct, 9, 1917.

Application filed se temberiaisle. Serial-110362522;

T0 aZZwhom it may concern: Be it known that I, WILLIAM L. SPRINGER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Park Ridge, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Molding-Machines, of which the following is a descrip-' tion. a

My invention belongs to that general class of devices known asmolding machines, and relates particularly to a machine for the manufacture of rubber articles, especially rubber tire articles, such as pneumatic tires, outer casings, reliners, and the like. The invention has-among its objects the production of a device of the kind describedthat is simple, convenient, durable, efficient, and satisfactory, which will operate witha minimum of time andv labor, and consequently be economical in maintenance and operation. Other objects and advantages will be obvious to those skilled in the art 7 in view. of'the disclosure hereinafter set forth. v

To this end my lnvention consists in the novel construction, arrangement and com bination of parts herein shown and de-- scribed, and more particularly polnted out in the claims. Y r

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters indicate like parts, v

Figure 1 isa front elevation. of the chine;

Fig. 2 is a top elevation'of the same; Fig. 8 is a sectional View taken substanor corresponding tially on line 3, 3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4: is asectional view taken substan-- tially on line 4, 4 of Fig. 2, and

Fig. 5 is a similar view ofa portion of the machine, showing the mold sections separated.

Referring to the drawings, 1 and 2 represent the cooperating mold parts or sections,

one being preferably stationary and theother movable, so that the parts may be separated and the article to be molded may be placed therein or removed after it has been molded.v The mold members are provided with cooperating faces 3 and .4 the same being formed in the preferred form for lnterllners, as shown, in a series of parallel compound curves or undulatlons eX-.

tending lengthwise and across or transverselythe mold. It lsobvlous, however,

that the mold ng surfaces will vary with t e articles to be molded! Where tires, outer casings, or reliners', are molded, a mold similar'to that shown is preferably eniployed, and'in this case thematerial to be molded may bein the form of a long strip and fed through the mold, the same being molded inssuccessive sections. strip may be rolled as recervedfrom the machine, and cut into lengths or'sold in long sections; 5 or if not desired to mold long strlps, thexdesired'number of short pieces may be'placed' in the mold and the same formed. Regardless .of the shape or form of-the mold'eachpart is preferably provided with a heatingv chamber therein, as shown moldpart 1 has a heating chamber 5-, and part 2 'a heating chamber 6, suitable means being {provided for :conducting aheating medium thereto; Where'livesteam is employe das a heating medium, intake pipes 11 and 12,01 13 (see'Fig'. 1) or all of them, may

The molded rangedginl a receiver 8, whichmain'tains it H in place, and alsoserves to retain the heat in the. chamber, so that it will be radiated from the mold face.

preferably. made removable from its carrier 8, solthat molds of different kinds and sizes The mold section 1 is may be mounted upon the machine and securedinplace. --The. cooperating mold section 2 is; preferably arranged in an adjustable or movable'carrier 10, the same being secured. thereto in any desired way.' The same is, however, preferably made removable, so that it may be detached and another size orstyle fitted in placeto correspond o'rmate with the lower: mold part 1.

The upper. mold "s so supported that it may be raised from the lower mold so as to permit the insertion or removal of work with a minimum of labor and time, and also so that the work, when in long-strips, may be fed through the machine in the easiest possible manner; As shown, I have provided the carrier 10. with brackets 16, which are pivot-ally secured, to levers 17, carried by.

suitable brackets 18 on the machine. .When

the levers 17 are raised,the mold 2 is raised.

as desired. f I preferablyprovide counter;

weights 19 on the extended ends of the levers or arms 17, so that a mold of considerable weight, may be easily and quic'l'rly raised without effort.

To clamp or look the molds togetherand apply pressure thereto, I provide one or more clamping members 21, the numberdepending upon the size of the moldand work;

' all of the clamps-,1 secure thesameto abar or clampcariying plate 26,-which: is preferably made adjustable'relative the fr'a me or' top 9, which carries the" lower moldl As shown, members 21' are each pivotally' secured at 22 to brackets 27* on plates 26.

Carried by the frame or top 9 are one or more studs, or the equivalent, which are threaded and'arranged-to he engaged by nuts 29. The nuts 29 are suitably's'ecured to: the

' plate 20 so as to'suppo'rt' the same and prevent its I dropping when the 'parts are in the posltion' shown m'l lg'. 5; As illustrated" in Fig; 3, the nuts 29 areieach formed with teeth arranged toengage with a cotiper'ating worm, as hereafter described, and flanged as at 30 for engagement with a cotipera'tirigj part 31secured to the plate 26.

Carried by plate'26 and" extending along the machine below the top and preferably above the plate 26, is a" shaft 33, carrying worm 32' forieach nut 29', the shaft being' controlled by a hand wheel 34, 01 its equiv-a leut' for thepurpose; All of the: clamping members 21 are preferably securedv together by a bar 25, oriits equivalent;

Assuming that the'parts are as shown in F 1, with the mold in operation and a portion of the material in the mold it m'ay be assumed that? 36 represents material to be fed into the machine, and 3? material'thathas been molded, it being understood; as previously set forth, that a'single'piece the length of the mold or less" may be molded instead of a" continuous piecei To open the mold the hand: Wheel 34 is turned in'a direo tioir toturn the nuts-29,. so that theplate 26 7 israised; This relieves the pressure on the top of the carrier 10, so that the clamping members 21 may be-= thrown back, as shown in Fig. 5. The handles 17 may then be raised, raising the mold 2, as shown inthe same figure, so that the material bemoved, as for example, in the case of a strip moved toward the right in Fig. 1, until the molded part is substantially without the mold and a new section within. The upper mold" 2 is then dropped into place, and the clamping members moved to the position shown inl ig. 4-. The hand wheel34 is then thrown, so as to rotate shaft 33 in a direction to move the nuts 29 away from the mold, thereby moving plateZ-S, simultaneously tightening all of the" clampson the upper mold; If it isdesired to vary the pressure of any f the clamps, as for example to clamp one end tighter than the other, the same beingvaried gradually along the mold, the hand wheels 2 1' may be operated as desired, affording independent adjustment for each clamp: It will bev particularly noted that the mold 2' is raised substantially vertically, so that-no sliding transversely or lone gitudinally is required, and when it isbrought back into place it drops into proper position to accurately coeperate with the mol'dpart- 1, and the mold" being counterbalanced itmay be'raised with slight effort, even though of considerable weight: and without danger of any injury to'the' opera tor, since he does not have to-detachi the mold itself to slide'or raise it.

Having thus described my invention, it is obvious that various immaterialmodifications may be'made in the'same without de parting from the spirit of my invention; hencel do'not wishto/beunderstood as limiting myself tothe exact form, construction, arrangement or combination" of parts-herein shown and described, or uses: mentioned;

WVhat I claim as new and desire to-secure by Letters Patent is p V I, 1; Ina device-0f the kinchdescribed and" in combination, a mold comprising mating sections, eachformed with a heating chainber therein and provided with means" for conducting. a heating" medium thereto, and means for supporting andlockingisaid -mold sections together, comprising a' fixed sup port for one mold section and: a movable support for tlie'othei'-"mold section, and ad justablemeans for lockingsaid' supports in operative position,comprising a plurality of clamping members disposed along the mold,- me'ans for simultaneously controlling "the clamping members, and meansforvarying the pressure at an y clamping member inde pendently of theotherclamping members 2: In a device of the kind described an in combination; a suitable frame, aunold'com prising two sections, one section" supported by-said frame, means mounted on said frame for carrying the other mold section, said; meansoomprising a mold carrier, a" pivoted supporting lever'for said mold'carrier, counterbalancing: means for said mold carrier, and means for locking said-mold sections in operative relation to" each 1 other, comprising clamping members adjustably secured to the under side of the frame top .and extended to engage'the top of the carrier of said mold sections for applying pressure tosaid carrying section at substantially the center thereof, and means for varying'the adjustment of said clamping members. a

3. In a device of the kind described and in combination, a suitable frame, a mold comprising two sections, one section supported by said frame, means mountedon said frame for carrying the other mold section, said means comprising a mold carrier, means for detachably securing the mold thereto, a pivoted supporting lever'for'said mold carrier, and means for locking said mold sections in operative relation to each other, a plurality of clamping members, an

- adjustable member arranged below the frame top, said clamping members pivotally secured thereto, means for supporting said adjustable member below the frame top, comprising a plurality of threaded studs secured to the frame, nuts arranged on said studs, means for operatively connecting said nuts with said member, and means for rotating said nuts in unison, comprising a rotatable shaft provided with worms thereon, said worm gears arranged to engage said nuts.

4. A mold for making rubber articles, comprising mold sections formed with cooperating surfaces, said sections each provided with a heating chamber therein, and with means for conducting a heating medium thereto, in combination with means for adjustably sup'portingthe lower mold section, means for raising and lowering the upper section, and a series of clamps pivotally supported on the frame constructed to swing over the upper section when in place on the lower section and apply pressure to said section at a point well within its borders, and

means carried by the clamps for holding the upper section in place thereon, substantially as described.

5. A device of the kind described, comprising mold sections formed with cooperat ing surfaces, each provided with a heating chamber therein, and means for conducting a heating medium thereto, in combination with means for supporting the lower section,

a plurality of counterweighted levers adapted to lift the upper section, a plurality of clamps pivotally connected to the frame at their lower ends and adapted to swing over the lower section when it is in place, and screw-threaded clamping means carried by the upper end of the clamps and arranged to force the upper section firmly against the lower section, and additional threaded ad- 7 justing means for adjusting the lower ends of said clamps.

6. A device of the kind described, comprising a lower section and an upper section each provided with a heating chamber'and means for conducting a heating medium thereto, a pluralityof counterweighted levers adapted to support and operate the upper section, a plurality of clamping members pivotally supported at one end to the frame with the other end adapted to swing over the top of the upper section when in place, means carried by said clamping members to bring pressure upon the upper section when in place at a-point nearits center, and means for simultaneously operating the backward and forward movement of the clamps.

7. In a mold, thecombination with a pair of mold'sections formed with cooperating surfaces, a frame upon whichone of said sections rests,means formovably supporting theother section, an adjustable operating member, supporting means for said memof mold sections formed with cooperating surfaces, a frame upon which oneof said sections rests, means for movably supporting the other section, an adjustable operating member carried by said frame, threaded adjusting devices for said member, a plurality ofpivoted clamps attached to the operating member and adapted to engage one of said sections, and means for adjusting said operating member to clamp the sections, 1

comprising cooperating driving devices carrled by sa d threaded ad usting devlces and the ad usting means.

9. In a mold, the combination with a pair of mold sections formed with cooperating surfaces, a frame upon which one of said sections rests, means for movably supporting the other section, an adjustable operating member carried by said frame, threaded adjusting devices for said member, a plurality of pivoted clamps attached to'the operating member and adapted to engage one of said sections, and means for adjusting said operating member to clamp the sections, comprising cooperating driving devices carried by said threaded adjusting devices and the adjusting means, and independent adjustable members carried by the free ends of said clamps.

10. In a mold, the combination with a pair of mold sections, a frame upon which one of said sections rests, means for movably supporting the other section, an adjustable operating member, adjusting def vices on said member, means attached to said operating member and adapted to engage the movable mold section, and means for adj ustingrsaid operating member to clamp the sections COIHPIlSIIl cooperating gearing car riechby the operating member and the adusting means. i

11. In a mold, the combination with av pair or mold sections,- a frame forsupporting' one of said sections, means for inovably supporting" the othersection, an adjustable operating member, adjusting devices for said member, clamps attached to the operatmember and adapted to engage the movable mold section and means for adjusting said operating member to clamp the sections including cooperating gears operatively associated adjusting means; substantially as described.

12. In mold, the combination With apair of mold sectionsgot means for supporting the same, means for forcing one of said sections into engagement with the'other com- Copiesof this patentma'ylie-obtained for wi h said adjustin devices and the prising an adjustable member, and an 211C111 ustingmeans having gear connectlons Wltll said adj List-able member at spaced points.

1311i a mold, the combination With a I pair of mold sections, of means for support-- ing the same, means for forcingone of said sections into engagement with the other com-- prising; an adjustable member, and an adjusting means for operating said member including a plurality of driving gears associated therewith and engaging parts ar ranged in spaced relation on said adjustable five-cents each by addressing the commissioner of Patents Weishingtomi). G. 

